Dealer in Rare and First-Edition Books: Western Americana; Mystery, Detective, and Espionage Fiction

Yellowstone National Park Through The Stereoscope

by Underwood & Underwood

First edition. 6 1/2" x 3 1/2" original printed, stiff brown wrappers, 68 pp., plus large folding map affixed to the rear inside cover. Plus thirty stereoscopic views on stiff mounts, plus a second (different) copy of view number twenty six. An important photographic tour of Yellowstone, containing thirty stereoscopes of the park (this set contains two versions of view twenty-six, see below). Like many natural wonders of the western United States, the beauties of Yellowstone had to be seen to be believed. As a result, it became a popular subject for photographic firms, from F. Jay Haynes to Underwood and Underwood, who specialized in stereoscopic views. The pamphlet text begins with a brief history and overview of Yellowstone, along with tips on how best to enjoy the park, before moving on to detailed descriptions of each of the views contained in the stereocards. The text bears a copyright date of 1904, while the map, which is keyed to the photographs, is copyrighted 1905. Each of the views is copyrighted 1904 on the mount (save for the Keppler Canyon view, copyrighted 1901), with an accompanying title. The verso of each mount contains a few paragraphs describing the scene, with the title from the recto further translated into French, German, Spanish, Swedish, and Cyrillic, demonstrating the wide geographic spread of those who would be interested in the images. The images are titled as follows:
1) "Arriving by N. Pac. Ry. at Gardiner, Mont., for visit to Yellowstone Park - looking west to Gallatin 2) "Six-horse tally-ho leaving mountain walled Gardiner for trip through Yellowstone Park, U.S.A."
3) "From Yellowstone Park N. through its gateway over Gardiner to Gallatin Range (left) and Buffalo Plateau."
4) "Fort Yellowstone, among the mountains, headquarters of U.S. Troops guarding Yellowstone Park, U.S.A."
5) "A mountain of 'petrified water' - Pulpit Terrace and Mammoth Springs Hotel, Yellowstone Park, U.S.A."
6) "How an overflowing spring begins to build a terrace of "geyserite" deposits, Yellowstone Park, U.S.A."
7) "Cleopatra Terrace and its mirror-like pools - Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone Park, U.S.A."
8) "Wild Buffalo, one of America's 'first families,' at home on a sunny slope, Yellowstone Park, U.S.A."
9) "Golden Gate - entrance to picturesque ravine of 'golden rocks' - Yellowstone Park, U.S.A."
10) "'Black Growler' whose steam kills trees, and whose roaring startles tourists, Yellowstone Park, U.S.A."
11) "Glittering spray from 'Constant' Geyser and steam from 'Black Growler,' Yellowstone Park, U.S.A."
12) "The 'Devil's Inkwell' bubbling and boiling over hidden fires, in famous Yellowstone Park, U.S.A."
13) "Grizzly Bear at home in the wooded wilderness of famous Yellowstone Park, U.S.A."
14) "'Great Fountain' Geyser, throwing up clouds of steam and boiling water, Yellowstone Park."
15) "The 'Black Warrior' Geyser waving a banner of steam and spray Yellowstone Park, U.S.A."
16) "Grotesque shapes of geyserite among the pools of 'Biscuit Basin,' Yellowstone Park, U.S.A."
17) "Fifteen-minute display of 'Riverside" Geyser' - boiling water 100 feet in air - Yellowstone Park, U.S.A."
18) "The 'Tea Kettle' boiling hot from Mother Earth's hidden fire - Yellowstone Park, U.S.A."
19) "Sunrise in Yellowstone Park, where Mother Earth's great fires still burn - N.E. over Upper Geyser Basin."
20) "Peering into the mysterious center of 'Old Faithful,' between its eruptions, Yellowstone Park, U.S.A."
21) "The most famous sight in Yellowstone Park - 'Old Faithful' Geyser in action (height 180 ft.)."
22) "Mirrored beauty of majestic 'Old Faithful,' east to Continental Divide, Yellowstone Park, U.S.A."
23) "Ominous bubbling and boiling in the 'Devil's Punch Bowl,' Yellowstone Park, U.S.A."
24) "Keppler Cascade, one of the Gems of Yellowstone Park, U.S.A."
25) "W. from the Continental Divide over Shoshone Lake to the distant Grand Teton, Yellowstone Park, U.S.A."
26) "Fisherman at lake turning to cook in a boiling hot spring the trout just caught, Yellowstone Park, U.S.A." (NOTE: there are two copies of this view, one showing a man in sporting gear, the other a man dressed in a suit).
27) "From Pt. Lookout, 1,200 ft. above the river, up canon to Lower Falls (308 ft.), Yellowstone Park, U.S.A."
28) "From Pt. Lookout north down the glorious canon to river 1,200 feet below, Yellowstone Park, U.S.A."
29) "Ten miles of yawning chasm - down the canon from Inspiration Pt. Yellowstone Park, U.S.A."
30) "Incredible heights and depths of the canon N.E. from Artists' Point….” Minor to light wear to the original brown wrappers which is offered together with the stereoscopic views and all housed in the original brown cloth chemise, with titles stamped in gold gilt on the spine. A handsome presentation in near fine condition.